Water Mission 
Summary
Water Mission is a Christian engineering nonprofit that designs, builds, and implements safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) solutions for people in developing countries and disaster areas. Since 2001, Water Mission has used innovative technology and engineering expertise to provide access to safe water for more than 3.6 million people in 55 countries. Water Mission has over 350 staff members working around the world in permanent country programs located in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
Contact information
Mailing address:
PO Box 71489
N. Charleston, SC 29415
Website: www.watermission.org
Phone: (843) 769-7395
Email: info@watermission.org
Organization details
EIN: 571116978
CEO/President: Dr. George Greene III, PhD, PE
Chairman: George C. Greene III, PhD, PE
Board size: 13
Founder: George and Molly Greene
Year founded: 2001
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 09/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 2003
Purpose
We design, build and implement safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) solutions for people in developing countries and disaster areas. We have over 350 (mostly indigenous) staff members around the world in permanent country programs, using innovative technology and engineering expertise to break through the global water crisis. When we implement solutions, we strive to build self-sustaining solutions that provide safe water to people in communities for the rest of their lives. For water, sanitation and hygiene to result in lasting benefits, services must be accessible to all, safe to use, and sustainable in the way they are managed. Our holistic approach to community development builds on local resources and relationships to nurture such an environment. Water Mission holds four patents for innovative technology used to provide safe water and sanitation solutions. In addition to our patented technology, Water Mission implements the latest technology available to meet the unique needs of communities around the world. We are constantly researching and testing new products and equipment in our innovation lab located in the Water Mission headquarters in Charleston, SC. Ongoing research and development occurring in the lab ensures continuous improvements in the physical and social sciences that form the basis of safe water and sanitation projects.
Mission statement
The mission of Water Mission is to honor God by developing, implementing, and sharing best-in-class safe water solutions that transform as many lives as possible, as quickly as possible.
Statement of faith
Water Missions International uses the following to express its Statement of Faith:
Water Missions International is an inclusive faith based organization that seeks to meet water needs for people of all nations, ethnic groups and languages.
1. We believe the Bible to be the inspired, authoritative Word of God containing all things necessary for salvation. (II Timothy 3:15-17, Proverbs 30:5, John 1:1 and John 20:31)
2. We believe there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5, I Timothy 1:17 and Matthew 28:19)
3. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His incarnation in human form, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory. (John 10:30, Colossians 2:9, Isaiah 9:6, Matthew 1:23, Hebrews 4:15, Acts 2:22, I Peter 1:18-19 and Acts 1:9-11)
4. We believe repentance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ results in regeneration by the Holy Spirit and that Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation. (Titus 3:4-7, Ephesians 2:8-9, John14:6, Acts 4:12 and Luke 24:46-47)
5. We believe in the ministry of the Holy Spirit, whose indwelling enables the Christian to live a godly life. (I John 4:13, I Corinthians 12:1-11 and I Corinthians 6:19)
6. We believe in the resurrection of the saved and the lost, the saved unto the resurrection of eternal life and the lost unto the resurrection of damnation and eternal punishment. (John 5:28-29, Revelation 20:11-15 and I Corinthians 15:51-57)
7. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ and that all true believers are members of His body, the Church. (Ephesians 1:22-23; and I Corinthians 12:12, 27)
8. We believe that the ministry of evangelism is a responsibility of the Church and each Christian. (Isaiah 6:8, Romans 10:9-15, Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:17-20 and I Peter 3:15)
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Relief and Development
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 150 of 439 | 30 of 62 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 189 of 439 | 30 of 62 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 132 of 439 | 32 of 62 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 230 of 439 | 38 of 62 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Median % for all ministries in MW database | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 7% | 6% | 10% | 14% | 9% | 10% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 6% | 5% | 8% | 11% | 9% | 10% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 95% | 86% | 84% | 79% | 98% | 97% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 6% | 8% | 9% | 11% | 8% | 10% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 5% | 14% | 16% | 21% | 2% | 3% |
| Operating ratios | Median % for all ministries in MW database | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 82% | 88% | 86% | 83% | 87% | 85% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 99% | 68% | 91% | 100% | 106% | 99% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 81% | 60% | 78% | 84% | 92% | 83% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 1% | 32% | 9% | 0% | -6% | 1% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 2% | 51% | 17% | -1% | -8% | 1% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 10% | 5% | 5% | 6% | 5% | 5% |
| Investing ratios | Median measure for all ministries in MW database | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.27 | 1.05 | 1.67 | 1.60 | 1.38 | 0.95 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.54 | 1.03 | 1.10 | 1.14 | 1.14 | 1.14 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.45 | 1.08 | 1.83 | 1.82 | 1.58 | 1.09 |
| Liquidity ratios | Median measure for all ministries in MW database | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 8.05 | 23.26 | 11.39 | 9.77 | 22.79 | 27.48 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.11 | 0.04 | 0.09 | 0.10 | 0.04 | 0.04 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 4.07 | 10.62 | 5.97 | 5.91 | 7.26 | 10.61 |
| Solvency ratios | Median % for all ministries in MW database | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 10% | 4% | 8% | 9% | 4% | 3% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 63% | 92% | 55% | 57% | 70% | 102% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
| Cash | $15,640,004 | $6,160,222 | $4,567,496 | $4,184,064 | $4,968,584 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $5,083,996 | $4,117,232 | $3,703,373 | $3,830,286 | $4,087,677 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $20,724,000 | $10,277,454 | $8,270,869 | $8,014,350 | $9,056,261 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $676,546 | $989,062 | $1,179,067 | $1,145,984 | $1,290,192 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $676,546 | $989,062 | $1,179,067 | $1,145,984 | $1,290,192 |
| Total assets | $21,400,546 | $11,266,516 | $9,449,936 | $9,160,334 | $10,346,453 |
| Liabilities | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $515,030 | $505,807 | $441,286 | $351,686 | $329,503 |
| Other current liabilities | $375,901 | $396,483 | $405,173 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $890,931 | $902,290 | $846,459 | $351,686 | $329,503 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total liabilities | $890,931 | $902,290 | $846,459 | $351,686 | $329,503 |
| Net assets | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
| Unrestricted | $6,002,041 | $4,958,853 | $6,026,864 | $5,362,239 | $6,512,115 |
| Temporarily restricted | $14,507,574 | $5,405,373 | $2,576,613 | $3,446,409 | $3,504,835 |
| Permanently restricted | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Net assets | $20,509,615 | $10,364,226 | $8,603,477 | $8,808,648 | $10,016,950 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
| Total contributions | $28,421,605 | $17,310,853 | $11,793,187 | $11,649,550 | $9,666,748 |
| Program service revenue | $4,400,811 | $3,210,294 | $3,156,527 | $203,813 | $135,671 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $9,821 | $7,630 | $9,306 | $12,065 | $14,699 |
| Other revenue | $28,812 | $135,185 | $60,371 | $65,941 | $187,663 |
| Total other revenue | $4,439,444 | $3,353,109 | $3,226,204 | $281,819 | $338,033 |
| Total revenue | $32,861,049 | $20,663,962 | $15,019,391 | $11,931,369 | $10,004,781 |
| Expenses | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
| Program services | $19,659,022 | $16,139,548 | $12,544,992 | $10,994,431 | $8,347,859 |
| Management and general | $1,024,207 | $963,922 | $864,335 | $645,679 | $524,554 |
| Fundraising | $1,722,777 | $1,749,580 | $1,675,641 | $1,029,525 | $994,251 |
| Total expenses | $22,406,006 | $18,853,050 | $15,084,968 | $12,669,635 | $9,866,664 |
| Change in net assets | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $10,455,043 | $1,810,912 | ($65,577) | ($738,266) | $138,117 |
| Other changes in net assets | ($309,654) | ($50,163) | ($139,594) | ($598,334) | ($123,990) |
| Total change in net assets | $10,145,389 | $1,760,749 | ($205,171) | ($1,336,600) | $14,127 |
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
History
In 1998, our founders, Molly and George Greene, were operating an environmental engineering company in Charleston, South Carolina when they heard about the devastation in Honduras caused by Hurricane Mitch. After receiving a request for multiple water treatment systems in Honduras, and being unable to find existing systems that would work, George and his team of engineers took action to build such a system - and thus the idea for Water Missions International was born.
When the Greene's arrived in Honduras, they were shocked by what they found. The river that flowed through a nearby village was the color of chocolate milk, deep brown with toxins, bacteria and hopelessness. The residents of the village referred to it as the "River of Death" - no one survived once they drank from that river. As one of the newly built water systems became operational, the local villagers were still terrified to drink any water from the river - whether it was clear or not. So Molly and George placed their own lips to the hose and drank the newly purified water. With that action, Molly and George bridged the final gap and the villagers swarmed forward to drink the water.
In the aftermath of their Honduras trip, Molly and George discovered the sad truth about the global water crisis - that billions are forced to drink dirty water every day. In 2001, the Greenes took action to combat this reality and founded Water Mission.
Program accomplishments
2018-2019 Program Accomplishments
- 150 safe water projects with the capacity to serve 450,000 people
- Distribution of people served in 2018:
- Disaster Response: 39%
- Uganda: 22%
- Haiti: 12%
- Tanzania 8%
- Honduras: 6%
- Kenya: 5%
- Peru: 3%
- Liberia: 2%
- Malawi: 1%
- Mexico: 1%
- Indonesia: 1%
- Since 2001, Water Mission has served more than 4 million people in 55 countries
- Water Mission has full-time staff in nine countries: Haiti, Honduras, Peru, Mexico, Malawi, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Indonesia.
- Since 2015, Water Mission has served 250,000 refugees in Northern Uganda
- Currently we are serving 90,000 more than 90,000 Burundi refugees in Nyarugusu, Tanzania.
- This past year, our more than 40 strategic partners generously supported us through expertise, products, and sponsorships.
- Water Mission celebrated 18 years of service.
- More than 500 volunteers assist Water Mission annually.
- This year, we were asked to serve as the go-to solar pumping expert within the prominent Rural Water Supply Network, leading the conversations associated with research, collaboration, and training. This work led to a major milestone for Water Mission, as we were recently contracted by UNICEF to develop industry-wide standards for solar pumping solutions in 2019.
- After two years of extensive development and testing in six countries, we officially launched the Restore Survey this year in western Honduras. The tool allows us to collect critical, real-time data about a community's strengths and weaknesses - including its management capacity, WASH behaviors, and overall well-being. In 2019, we plan to roll out the Restore Survey in each of our country programs.
- Water Mission has achieved Charity Navigator's top "4-star" rating for sound fiscal management and transparency for 12 years in a row.